In the context of female physiology and the mechanics of the process, natural and epidural types of childbirth should not be considered too much different. In both situations, if there are no complications or other critical circumstances, the woman undergoes labor contractions and delivers the baby herself under control of obstetricians and medical assistants.

Also, both of these types of childbirth are quite risky: both of them may end up with a necessity of doing Caesarean section, or with vaginal delivery with the help of forceps or vacuum. And possible complications, which may occur after epidural or natural childbirth, are mostly similar: in both situations, new mothers have to cope with afterbirth pains and body transformations. In addition, they have to face psychological and mental changes, connected with the coming of a new person, fully dependent on them.

Finally, both types of childbirth are free for future mother’s choice and nobody can force a woman to prefer one method for another. But, certainly, there are special circumstances and health conditions of pregnant woman, when one or another type of childbirth can be recommended by the doctors. For example, epidural anesthesia is preferable for a woman with low pain threshold or with emotional fear of suffering during labor. But if a woman is psychologically prepared and strong, if she has good health and physical condition, doctors usually recommend trying natural childbirth as the less risky and absolutely “natural” way of delivering a baby.

Childbirth is considered to be the main and very important mission of every woman on earth. Every future mum is looking forward to feel the happiness of bringing a new person to this world, and experience the joy of seeing him growing up and developing. But at the same time every expecting woman is usually very nervous about the necessity to go through the severe pain and suffering, which always accompany the whole long process of natural childbirth.

Fortunately, modern advanced medical technologies offer a number of opportunities to cope with the pain. Women can use, for example, strong and effective palliative medicines, which can help to ease the suffering. Another option for today’s woman to considerably decrease the pain during the childbirth is to choose epidural anesthesia to be applied right after labor pains begin. This type of anesthesia is frequently recommended by doctors and is successfully used in many clinics and marital houses throughout the world.

It is performed as the following: a thin needle, connected to a little catheter, is placed into epidural space of the woman’s spine. The needle fills epidural space with special medication, which directly influences local nerves of the spine, relaxes the muscles of the pelvis and substantially relieves the pain. Then, the needle can be removed and the amount of medication can be controlled with the help of the catheter: it remains in woman’s spine, so doctors can transmit additional portions of medication, if necessary.

To avoid the risk of removal of the catheter it must be reliably fixed to the body of the woman. It is important that the epidural anesthesia does not affect the strength or intensity of birth pangs. That is why a woman in epidural labor still feels pressure and struggles to push the baby out. After the delivery catheter is removed from the body.